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An obituary is a notice of the death, usually published in a newspaper that generally includes biographical information such as age, birthplace, occupation, names of surviving relatives, and place of death. The biographical information contained in an obituary can be extremely useful to genealogists and people researching their family histories, in addition to being a memorial to a person's life.

For many of our ancestors and relatives, the obituary is the only "biographical sketch" of that individual. In addition to providing basic information such as names, dates, and places of birth and death, obituaries can also describe relationships between family members such as parents, siblings, and children of the decedent (person who died).

Obituaries may also contain information as to the church or cemetery where the person was buried, the identification of the officiating minister, the hospital where the death took place, or records pertaining to a coroner's report in case of unpredicted death. An informative obituary can open up many genealogical research avenues and typically includes data such as:

• General information such as the name, date of birth, address, date and place of birth and death. Sometimes the cause of death is published.
• Visitation and funeral information (date, time and place of burial).
• A listing of surviving relatives, including the spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings, and other close relatives and friends. Previous marriages and maiden names, if any, are also listed.
• The decedent's employer or employment status, notable accomplishments and other hobbies and interests.
• Memberships in organizations, whether social, religious, or vocational.

In short, obituaries are more than just death notices; they are a great way to research genealogical information about your ancestors.